Can Arteta Break Arsenal's Curse and Win the Title?

The Premier League title race has produced many iconic moments over the years, from Steven Gerrard's slip to Kevin Keegan's despair. This season, a Manchester City fan's gesture of drinking from an Arsenal bottle in the Stamford Bridge away end has become a symbol of the title race's momentum shift. With City six points behind, their fan's actions may seem premature, but they highlight the ominous feeling surrounding the title race. History seems to be repeating itself, as Manchester City tends to hit top gear in April, while Arsenal often falters. Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's win percentage drops below 50% in April, and they have lost three of their last four games. So, what is behind Arsenal's recent slump, and how can Arteta stop the rot? One reason for their struggles is a tactical issue. In their recent defeat to Bournemouth, Arsenal's players passed the ball back to goalkeeper David Raya 38 times, indicating their inability to cope with Bournemouth's press. The Cherries' manager, Andoni Iraola, employed a four-man press, shutting off the middle of the pitch and forcing Arsenal to play the ball long or to their center-backs, giving the opposition a chance to win the ball back. This tactic resulted in Bournemouth's two goals, which came from Arsenal mistakes. Arteta has had time to address this issue during the international break but has yet to find a solution. He needs to act quickly, as a reunion with Pep Guardiola's City is looming. The question is, can Arteta change the tactical narrative and overcome City's dominance? Guardiola has shown his ability to adapt, turning players like Nico O'Reilly into goalscoring machines. Arteta, on the other hand, has relied heavily on set pieces for attacking play, which may not be enough to overcome City. Another issue is the management of his squad, particularly the exhaustion of key players like Martin Zubimendi. Zubimendi has played more minutes than any other Arsenal outfield player, and his fatigue is evident. Arteta could have rotated his midfielders more, but the injury to Mikel Merino has put a strain on Declan Rice. The pressure is mounting, and Arteta's tactics are being questioned. However, Guardiola believes that the issue is not with tactics but with mindset. A worrying trend has emerged, with Arteta's pre-match rallying cries to the fans not translating to his team's performance. Before the Bournemouth game, he asked fans to 'get up for it,' but the team failed to deliver. This has happened before, and it adds to the tension and anxiety surrounding the team. Gary Neville has pointed out that Arsenal's players are feeling the weight of expectation, and their desire to win is causing them to become mentally and emotionally drained. Arteta's restless nature has also been evident, and his triple substitution against Bournemouth was seen as a sign of panic. Perhaps a calmer approach would have been more effective. The solution to Arsenal's predicament lies both in and out of Arteta's control. He needs to make tactical tweaks to overcome City, but he also relies on the return of injured players. The absence of Jurrien Timber, Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori, and Martin Odegaard has been felt, and their return could bring clarity to situations like building play out of the back. Despite the injuries, Arsenal has been in a good situation, and their form going into the Man City match does not define their entire season. The game on Sunday will be crucial in determining their title chances.